Whether you are trying to watch a good show on Netflix, working from your home office or maybe doing a bit of online gaming, slow speeds on your broadband can really mess things up.
However, where you place your router can do wonders at boosting download speeds.
According to Virgin Media, one of the largest broadband providers in Ireland, not only should this flashing black box be out in the open and away from other electronic devices, but also not placed in the kitchen.
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"It’s not just electronics that interfere with your Wi-Fi signal: metal can also wreak havoc with your connection," Virgin Media explained, via Express.
"Kitchens are often home to heavy-duty metal appliances (think ovens, fridges and washing machines), as well as signal-emitting electronics like microwaves, making them a particularly inhospitable environment for your router."
If you keep your Wi-Fi router in the kitchen and your signal isn’t the best then it could be time to position it elsewhere in the house.
Alongside this, mirrors are another thing to watch out for as they can reflect the radio waves used to transmit wireless internet. This then has a negative impact on performance by scattering and distorting the signal.
“It’s not just mirrors, either: be wary of stainless steel countertops, filing cabinets or any other flat, reflective surface," Virgin warned.
Another menace can be found in fish tanks as internet signals don’t like travelling through water so keep your router away from these.
One final piece of advice is to keep your router upright at all times as laying things flat can slow down speeds.
"If you’re trying to tuck your router into a specific space, such as under a TV unit, you might be tempted to turn it on its side.
“Our advice? Don’t. Keep your router upright with the front lights facing into the room to ensure more of the signal goes outwards into that room, rather than into the floor," Virgin added.
While it is worth remembering that it won’t make your physical speeds faster as you’ll only get the service you pay for, making some simple changes will make sure you get a more reliable connection and your downloads don’t slow down.
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